2A12 Experimental research on rail/wheel wear(Boundary)

Abstract

A restraint on the wear of train wheels and rails of a railway is required to improve running safety and reduce maintenance cost. Wear is one of the problems that need to be settled in managing railway property. In order to deal with this problem, it is fundamental that we understand the mechanism of wear between rail and wheel. For this purpose, in this study an experimental approach to wear development using test stand that has controlled environment with respect to contact parameters and factors influential in causing wear is taken. In the experiments conducted, a 1/5 scaled rolling stock test stand consisting of a wheel set and two rail rollers is used. A comparison was made of the worn wheel surfaces and the creep force under various contact interface conditions such as coefficient of friction and radius of curvature. The contact interface conditions included a dry surface condition and a friction modifier-applied condition, in which low coefficient friction and high positive friction were used as friction modifiers. By studying photographs of worn wheel surfaces and the creep forces under various conditions, the mechanism of wear development at the rail/wheel contact point is examined. In particular, we clarify the influence of the creep force on the wear coefficient and the status of the worn wheel surfaces.